Bolshoi BabylonNick Read, Mark Franchetti
Even the least cultured have heard of the Russian Bolshoi ballet. Look behind the curtains of this legendary institute and discover a hallucinatory snake pit of intrigue and scandal.
In January 2013, Sergei Filin, the artistic director of the Bolshoi Ballet, was the victim of a brutal attack. Acid was thrown in his face. For decades, the Bolshoi Ballet was the crown jewel of the Russian identity. It was attended by top politicians worldwide, from Ronald Reagan to Fidel Castro. But this vicious assault put the Ballet in a very different light. When one of the main dancers was arrested on charges of assault, a very different, hidden world gradually came to the surface. A world of clashing egos, an intense power struggle and toxic jealousy. Shakespeare himself could not have come up with it.
"Bolshoi Babylon” brings an intriguing story with a compelling mix of unique backstage footage, breathtaking performances and revelatory interviews with Bolshoi dancers. A legendary cultural institution on the brink due to intrigue, both inside and outside the theater walls. Because the ballet is so closely linked to the Russian identity and pride, the fact that the Ballet has become such a snake pit is not only a national tragedy, but also a symptom of the moral decay of Russia.
Info
Directed by Nick Read, Mark Franchetti
UK
86 min.
Russian
Subtitles: English
Programme
Festival favorites*
credits
Director
Nick Read, Mark Franchetti
Producer
Mark Franchetti
Production company
Red Velvet Films, Red Box Films
Cinematography
Nick Read
Editing
David Charap, Jay Taylor
Music
Colin Smith, Simon Elms
Contact info
Bekijk Contact info(en screener)
(beschikbaar vanaf 20.03)